Very good points about China's quest to monopolize big data and use it to consolidate its power. As someone who has lived about half his life in Taiwan with a Master's in Chinese history, I have long been following China's increasing pressure on Taiwan to "resist independence"... as if it were not already independent.
But many pundits and Poli Sci commentators still mistakenly view China as a modern state ... that should recognize Taiwan (or ROC) as an independent state. I say mistakenly, because the CCP does not see either China or Taiwan as modern states.
Their concept of China is much more aligned with an empire than nation state.
The rulers of China today, as you mentioned, have little regard for rule of law, especially if the law may destabilize their power. Keeping the empire intact and consolidating power is priority no.1, and this means controlling territories, people's thinking and big data.
Chinese Emperors of old never had the technological tools at their disposal to both unify "China" and subjugate their subjects. Today's Chinese Emperors of future~past will either successfully create a new form of governance and statehood or will implode. Time will tell, but control of big data is no doubt a crucial part of this story.
Very good points about China's quest to monopolize big data and use it to consolidate its power. As someone who has lived about half his life in Taiwan with a Master's in Chinese history, I have long been following China's increasing pressure on Taiwan to "resist independence"... as if it were not already independent.
But many pundits and Poli Sci commentators still mistakenly view China as a modern state ... that should recognize Taiwan (or ROC) as an independent state. I say mistakenly, because the CCP does not see either China or Taiwan as modern states.
Their concept of China is much more aligned with an empire than nation state.
The rulers of China today, as you mentioned, have little regard for rule of law, especially if the law may destabilize their power. Keeping the empire intact and consolidating power is priority no.1, and this means controlling territories, people's thinking and big data.
Chinese Emperors of old never had the technological tools at their disposal to both unify "China" and subjugate their subjects. Today's Chinese Emperors of future~past will either successfully create a new form of governance and statehood or will implode. Time will tell, but control of big data is no doubt a crucial part of this story.
Thanks very much for your comment. Well said, and I agree.